Can



y 1944. 'w. E. BuRN 2,349,939

CAN

Filed April 4; 1942 INVENTOR W/uaeo Bug/v.5

ATTORNEY Patented May 30, 1944 UNITED- CAN , Wilford E. Burns, Burlinganie, Calif., assig'nor to M. J. B. Company, San Francisco, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application April 4, 1942 Serial No. 437,652

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in cans orcontainers, and it has reference more particularly to cans that may be hermetically sealed and which have an end, or closure member, adapted to be removed from the body by the cutting of a circumferentialpacking and sealing stripthat is applied between and joins the peripheral portions of the cover and can body.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a can or container wherein the sealing as well as the attachment of the cover or closure tothe body is through the mediacy of a strip of material, which might be air and water-proofed paper, fibenplastic-or other material of suitable nature, applied to the parts in such manner as to effect an air-tight joint and at the same time to hold the parts securely and properly assembled until the can. is opened.

Furthermore, the invention contemplates the provision of a sealing strip adapted to be severed by means of a knife point, or the like, to release the closure for removal from the can body after the fashion of removing a closure by the tearing out ofa rip strip or tearing strip from a can wall.

It is also an object "Of this invention to so arrange the parts that-thev cutting of the packing and sealing strip will not interfere in any way with subsequent use of the cover for reclosure purposes. l

Another object of the invention is to eliminate the requirement foruse of keys in connection with the opening of cans.

Still another object of the invention is to so assemble the parts thatthe sealing and packing strip will be exposed exteriorly of the can between flanges of the can body and cover, thus to permit it to be severed, and to provide an unobstructed channel back of the-strip within which the point of the knife m'ayproj'ect when the strip is being severed,thusto insure cutting completely through Still further objectsof the invention are "to be found in the specific details of construction and combination of arts; as will hereinafter be fully described. y

In accomplishing the above mentioned and other objects ofthe invention, I have provided the'i mproved details of constructionthe preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanyingldrawing, wherein Fig. 1 is a partial side view and partial vertical sectionlofa can, or container embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, cross-sectional detail of parts of the cover and can body, illustrating the application and function of the sealing and packing strip. Also, illustrating the manner of applying a knife to the strip for cutting it to release the cover. 7

Fig.- 3 is a horizontal section, taken on the line 3- 3 inFig.2.

Referring more in detail to the drawing- The present, can o container is of cylindrical form and is designated in its entirety by reference numeral I.

- It is not thoughnecessary, in the present instance, to go into detail with reference to the method of or means for forming the can body. Suffice it to {say that the cylindrical body 2 is closed at its lower end by an end wall 3, and the upper end of the bod is fitted with a removable closure member designated in its entirety by reference numeral 4; this latter being of the type referred to as an internal slip fit cover.

As will be understood best by reference to Fig. 2 of the drawing, the cylindrical body portion 2 is formed about its upper end portion with a triple fold. of metal. This is formed, first,.tby folding the metal of'the body portion outwardly and downwardly, thus formin a rounded head 5 about the mouth of the container. The outwardly and downwardly turned portion of metal extends somewhat below the bead and is then bent outwardly and upwardly, thus forming a continuous, upwardly opening, U-shaped channel immediately about the mouth of the can. The inner wall portion 6 of the channel, as noted'in Fig. 2, is pressed tightly against the underlying upper portion of the body wall. The outer wall 1 0f the channel is spaced somewhat outwardly from the Wall E, and its upper peripheral edge is slightly below the horizontal level of the head 5. Thus, the walls 6 and l of the U-shaped channel, together with the upper portion of the can body wall, forms the triple fold. The base of the channel is formed with a rounded slot 8.

Immediately below the U-shaped channel. which encircles the mouth of the can, the body is formed with an outwardly curved, stiffening bead 9 which adds rigidity to the construction. The closure member 4 is a one-piece forma tion, having a cylindrical countersink l2 adapted to be fitted into the mouth of the can and to engage tightly against the bead '5. At its upper edge, the countersink terminates in an outwardl formed seat I3 adapted to engage against the bead 5 to limit the extent towhich the closure,

may be inserted within the can. Above the seat,

there is a cylindrical wall extension [4 which is spaced somewhat from the top peripheral edgeof the channel wall 8. This spacing permits application of a knife to the sealing strip, as will presently be described.

The central portion N5 of the closure 4 is upwardly formed to approximately the level of the bead 5 to give head space Within the container.

Fitted respectively within the opposedly facing channel portions of the container body and the closure member, are the upper and lower edge portions of a sealing and packing strip designated by reference numeral 20. This comprises a continuous annular strip of paraffined paper, fiber, plasticyor-any other suitable material which maybe cut through and which, when properly applied, will satisfactorily serve the purpose of sealing the container. In a can of common dimensions; for example, a can two and seven-eighths inches high, the sealing strip would be approximately one thirty-second of an inch thick and the space'between the edges of the walls 8 and should be approximately .050 of an inch for reception of the point of a knife to cut through the strip for opening the can. In Fig. 2, the manner of applying a knife blade has been illustrated. In this view, the knife blade is shown in dotted lines at M, and the point of the blade is shown to be extended completely through the strip.

It will be understood that the annular sealing strip is applied to the channel of the can body during the operation of forming the can body and that it'will be held-in place by reason of its lower portion being seated in the channel and clamped between the inner and outer walls 6 and 1. This holdingeifect is augmented by the position of the head 5.

Prior to the time that the closure member, or cover, is applied to the can body, th outer flange i5 of the channel forming portion has not yet been bent downwardly, but is then ex tending outwardly, as indicated by the dotted line showing of thisflange in Fig. 2. After the countersink of the closure has-been seated within the annular sealing strip,,then the flange I5 is bent downwardly and crimped on the strip. This, of course, would be after the can had been filled, and is done at the packing plant.

An important feature of the present construction is illustrated in Fig. 2, wherein it is noted that the rounded, outer top edge of the bead 5 and the upwardly rounded outer surface of the sea-t I3 provide an open or unobstructed annular channel abou t the top edge of the can, back of the sealing strip. When the knife point is inserted through the strip 20 to sever it for removal of the cover, it may then follow within this channel and thus will cut entirely tersink of the cover will be free to be lifted or pulled out of the mouth of the can.

This cover may then be used conveniently for reclosure purposes and will, by reason of the pressure of the wall l2 against the bead 5 when applied, be frictionally held in place, and will effect a substantially tight closure of the can.

The fact that the sealing strip 20 is of a water-'proofed or paraffined paper, o r other material of an air and water-proof nature, will insure that the can can be hermetically sealed thereby.

Such cans may be made in various sizes and in varying proportionate dimensions without departing from the spirit of the invention. However, it is most satisfactory for cans of ordinary size, and the invention lends itself to cans having one-piece drawn bodies.

The advantages residing in this particular type of container are that a satisfactory airtight joint may be made and there is no requirement for the tearing out of a rip strip by 'means of a key torelease the cover from the can body. Thus, the cost of manufacture is lessened and an easier and more convenient means for opening the can is provided.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire, to secure by Letters Patent is: i

1. A can of the character described, comprising a body closed at itslower endand having its upperend open, and formed about said open end with an encircling flange that is turned outwardly and downwardly, then outwardly and finally upwardly, thus to provide a continuous, upwardly openingchannel ofsubstantial depth circumferentially about the open end of the can body; a closure member for the open end of the body, having a countersink removably fitted within the open end' of the can, and the countersink being formed jthereabout with an outwardly directed seat engaged with the peripheral edge of the body about the open end, and there being a flange continuing'above the said seat, extended upwardly,'then outwardly and finally downwardly, thus to provide a downwardly opening channel of substantial depth circumferentially of theclosure opposite the first mentioned channel, and a cylindrical sealing band of 'aseverable material, with upper and lower circumferential portions thereof seated and sealed in the channels of the closure and body, respectively, and. havingits medial circumferential portion exposed to the outside of the can for the severance thereof, thus 'to detach the closure from the body.

2. A'can as. recited in claim 1, wherein the seat formedabout the countersink of the closing member, when engaged with the top edge of the can body, definestherewith a recess circumferentially of and at the insideofthe sealing ring, permitting the passage of the point of a knife or the like as used to sever the sealing band, entirely through the band,

3. A can of the character described comprising a cylindrical body, open at its upper end, and having a wall closing its lower end, and a closure member removably appliedto the open end of the can; said can body being formed about the periphery of itsopen end with a rounded bead and with an integral flange: that is downwardly, outwardly and upwardly bent to form an, upwardly opening, continuous channel of substantial depth circumferentially about the open end of the can, below the-"level of said bead; said closure member "being formedwith a. cylindrical countersink designed to fit within the open end of the body against said bead and equipped with an outwardly directed seat to engage the bead, and having a peripheral flange above the seat forming a continuous, downwardly opening channel of substantial depth directly opposite the channel first mentioned, and a cylindrical band of several sealing material, with upper and lower circumferential edge portions thereof seated in said channels of the closure member and body and clamped. therein between the inner and outer walls defining the channels; the adjacent edges of the outer walls of the ed top surface of the bead; and the surface of the circumferential seat of the countersink define a continuous channel located at. the inside of the sealing band, circumferentially of the can and directly opposite the circumferential open space between the edges of the outer walls of the channels for passage of a knife point.

WILFORD E. BURNS. 

